Venus Williams hit the fastest recorded serve in women’s tour history at the French Open on Wednesday, reaching 206 kph (128.8 mph).

That broke the mark of 204 kph (127 mph), set by her sister Serena at the Cincinnati hard-court tournament last year.

Serving at 4-1, 30-love in the second set of her second-round match against Ashley Harkleroad, Williams smacked the record-breaking shot. Harkleroad actually got her racket on the ball, making it a service winner rather than an ace.IHT

So much for making it to the second week. Next year’s goal should be to make it to the second round.

Andy Roddick is out of the French Open in the first round again.

For the second straight year and fourth time in the last six years, the American exited at the earliest stage, falling to Igor Andreev of Russia 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 Tuesday.

“It was difficult, but I made him go out and beat me today,” said Roddick, who was broken at love in the third game of the final set when he double-faulted for the first time. “I felt like I hit the ball OK today. At times, really well.”
MSNBC

The Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova, who participated in the Istanbul Cup last week had taken a city tour with the driver assigned for her service, without the consent of organizers. When the famous player wrote about the tour in her internet diary, the driver got fired.

On her web diary, Sharapova wrote: “I am in Turkey….warm people and great food (very yummy)…two VERY important qualities. I haven’t seen too much of the city but from what I have seen, it reminds me a bit of Russia. Still adjusting to the time change….sort of forgot what that feels like. I’m hoping I can visit their famous Grand Bazaar because I’m in search of their glass tulip tea cups, although I’m not sure how realistic that really is.

I went through one of those claustrophobic drive through car washes for the first time because there was no way I could spend another 20 minutes waiting around for a proper washing…..I was a bit disappointed because after it was watered and splashed with some disgusting looking rainbow wax, someone dried it by hand with a red towel, that left red looking dust all over it. Is it normal to need another car wash after just washing it?”

When she posted this on her website, tour organizers found out about her secret city tour done without informing officials. Sharapova’s driver in Istanbul got fired.SABAH

The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, will name Tatiana Golovin, the French tennis star, “Promoter of Gender Equality” for the UNESCO-Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Partnership for Gender Equality in a ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters on 24 May (2 p.m., Salon Ségur). She will join Venus Williams, who was named the first global Promoter of Gender Equality for the programme last November.

Commenting on the nomination, the Director-General of UNESCO stated: “I am delighted to welcome Tatiana Golovin as the second Promoter of Gender Equality in this programme. The efforts of Tatiana Golovin and Venus Williams will be key factors in the successful implementation of the partnership as they will provide role models for millions of girls and young women around the world.”

Born in Moscow in 1988, Tatiana Golovin is one of the most promising women’s tennis champions. She is 17th in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Rankings and was Fed Cup finalist in 2004. “I am really excited to play an increased role in advancing women’s equality through this partnership,” Ms Golovin said. “I have had unbelievable opportunities as a professional athlete and feel strongly that girls and women across the world should have similar opportunities to succeed in the goals they set for themselves.”assodigitale

Spanish heart-throb Enrique Iglesias has had nothing but praise for his girlfriend Anna Kournikova of late. So it came as a surprise when reports began to circulate that the couple had split after five years together. It seems that the singer, who was on a visit to Stockholm to promote his first album in three years, Insomniac, made a comment to reporters in jest that he wasn’t expecting to be taken literally.

When a reporter asked if he was married, Enrique jokingly replied he’d just got divorced, saying he was single now and it’s ok. “I don’t mind being single,” he said. The singer’s playful words were then seized upon by the press, which began to report he’d ended his romance with Anna.

It appears that is far from the truth, and indeed his relationship with the Russian beauty seems stronger than ever. He recently told HELLO! magazine that former tennis ace Anna was the only woman he could imagine as the mother of his children.

While he has said he’s not ready to marry - and the couple still live in separate homes - they remain incredibly close. “It is the first serious relationship I’ve had in my life,” adds Miami-based Enrique who says that with the 24-year-old by his side he has no fears for the future.Hello